The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia / Written by Sir Philip Sidney Knight.

  • Philip Sidney
Date:
Anno Domini. 1598
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia / Written by Sir Philip Sidney Knight. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which contained a comely old man,with a Ladie of middle agc,biit ofexcellet beau- tiCjand more excellent would haue bene deemedabut that there flood between them a young maide^ whole wonderfulncfle tooke away allbeautie fro herjbut that which it might leemc flie gaue her backe againe by her verie fhadow. And fuch difference ij (beingknownethatit did indeed counterfeit a perfon lining) was there betweene ^ her and all the other^though Goddefles, that it Teemed the skill of the Painter beflo- wed on the other new beauticj butthat the beauty ofherbeflowed new skilloftke Painter.Thoughhe thought inquifitiuenefle an vneomely gueflahe could notchoofe but aske who llie was, that bearing (hew of one being in deed, could with naturall IQ gifts go beyond the reach ofinuention. i^^W^ranfwcredathatitwasmadeby the younger daughter ofhis Prince, who alfb with his wire were contained in that Tabic; the Painter meaning to reprefent the prefent condition of the young La- die^who flood watched by an ouer-curious eye of herparentsj and that he would al- fo haue drawne her eldefl fiflcr^ efleemed her match for beautie, in her fhcpheardilli 15 attire, but that the rude clowne her gardian would not fuft'er it*; neither durfl he aske ' leaue of the Prince for feareof fufpition. Pa/Iadmipcuccmcd that the matter was wrapt vp.infbme fecrecie, and therefore would for modeflie demaiind no further: but yet his countenance could notbut withdumbe eloquence defire it: Which Ka- Under perceiuingjWell, fayd he^my deare guefl, I know your mind, and I will fatisfie 20 it; neither will Ido it like a niggardly anfwerer5going no further then the bounds of the queflion^but I will difeouer vnto you, afwcll that wherein my knowledge is com¬ mon with others, as that which byextraordinarie means is deliuered vnto me: kno¬ wing fo much in you (though not long acquainted) that I fliall find your eares faith¬ ful! treafurers. So then fitting downe in two chaires, and fometimescaflinghis eye tothe pi(flure,he thus fpake. This countrie Arcadia among all the prouinces of Greece,hath cuer bene had in lingular reputation; partly for the fwcetnefle ofthe aire^and other naturall benefits, but principally for the well tempered mindes of the pople, who (finding that the Alining title of glorie,fb much affected by other nations,doth indeed help litic to the 3 o happinefle of life ) are the only people, which as by their iuflice and prouidence giue neither caufe nor hope'to their neighbours to annoy them. To are they not flirted with falfc praife totrouble others quiet, thinking it a fmall reward for the wafting of their owne Hues in rauening, that their pofteritic (hold long after fay,they had done fo. Eucn the Mules feeme to approue their good determination, bychqofingthis 35 countrie for their chiefe repairing place, and by beftowing their perfe(fl:ions lo largely here, that the very fhepheards haue their fancies lifted to fbhigh conceits, as the learned ofother nations are content both to borrow their names, and imitate their cunning. Here dwelleth and raigneth this Prince(wholc piifl ure you lee)by name a 40 Prince offufficient skill to gouernefbquiet a countrie,where the good minds ofthe former Princes had let downe good lawes,& the well bringing vp ofthe people doth feme as a moft Hire bond to hold the.But to be plaine with you,he excels in nothing fb much, as in the zealous lone of his people,wherein he doth not onely pafle all his own fore-goers,but as I think all the Princes liuing.W herofthe caiile isjthat though 4 5 he exceed not in the vertues which get admiration; as depth ofwifedome, height of courage and largenefle of magnificence, yet is he notable in thofe which ftirre affe- <flion,as truth of word,meeknefle,curtefie3mercifulnefle3and liberality. He being already well ftriken in yeares^ maried a young Princefle named Gyneeh^
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